Apparatus for thickening and washing materials



May 3,1927.

A. S. MOSES APPARATUS Fon THICKENING AND WASHING MATERIALS Filed April1'7. 1922 A Agli@ 0 0 0 D D 0 mv .Q v

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Patented May 3, 1927.

UNITED STATES ASHELEIGH S. MOSES, 0F NEW YORK, N. Y.

APPARATUS non THICKENING AND WASHING MATERIALS.

Application filed April 17, 1922. Serial No. 554,121.

This invention relates to apparatus forl thickening and washingmaterials, such solid substances suspended in a liquor, the tlnckenlngbeing accomplished by the removal of a part of the liquor` from themixture.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide means for thickeningthe suspended matter or pulp carried by the liquor, where'- by theliquor is passed through a separating medium adapted to hold back thesuspended matter, and in which said medium may be maintained in a cleancondition unobstructed by accumulation of matter thereupon.

Another object of this invention is to provide an apparatus `foraccomplishing such separation in which the separating medium is keptclean by action of the apparatus.

Another object of this invention is to provide a simple and improvedmethod for thickening pulp or like materials, in Vwhich the separationis accomplished by subjecting the liquid to variations in pressure.

Another object of this invention is to provide ay method and apparatusfor thickening the pulp carried by a liquid by which the thickened pulpmay be washed.

Further objects will appear from the -detail description taken inconnection with the accompanying drawing, in which the figure representsa cross-sectional view of an apparatus adapted for carrying out thepurposes of this invention.

In the apparatusshown in the drawing, a supply chamber 1, in which theunthickened material may be accumulated by any desired means, isconnected by means of a pipe 2 with a pulp chamber 3' enclosed by acasing 4. The pipe 2 connects to an inlet pipe 5 leading into thechamber 3 and provided with perforations 6 through which the liquidsupplied may enter the chamber 3. The chamber 3 is further supplied withan outlet 7 having a valve 8 by means of which the thickened pulp may bedrawn off when desired.

Above the pulp chamber 3 is arranged a series of filtrate chambers 9separated from the chamber 3 by a filter 10. The filter 1() may be ofany well known construction, such as fabric, Oras shown in the drawing,a grating 11 upon which are laid courses of gravel of' larger andprogressively smaller sizes and finally sand so as to form a filter bed12. The filter 10 lies between the pulp chamber 3 and the `filtratechambers 9 so that the liquid in passing from the former to the lattermust pass upwardly through the filter. Each `filtrate chamber 9 isclosed at the top by an elastic diaphragm 13 secured in place by a ring14 suitably secured to the casing. The ring 111 supports a spider 15provided with a bearing 16 for a plungerrod 17 connectedby a pitman 18with a cran-k on a shaft 19 driven by a belt 20 or other suitable means.The rod 17 carries at its lower end a stirrup 21 carrying a valve 22 inthe diaphragm 13. Rotation of the shaft 19 will thus reciprocate the rod17 so to alternately raise and lower the elas-` tic diaphragm 13. Thecranks on the shaft 19 which operate the diaphragms in the severalchambers 9 may be arranged at Various angles as indicated in thedrawing, so as to equalize the torque on the shaft throughout eachrevolution.

Above the diaphragms 13, an open chamber or trough 23 is provided by anupward extension of the casing wall, and this trough is provided-with a.spill-way 24 adapt-ed to discharge into a' conveying trough 25 of anysuitable construction. In operation, the liquid from the supply chamber1 passes through the pipes 2 and 5 w and the perforation's 6 into thechamber 3 carrying with it, of course, such suspended mattei' or pulp asmay be contained therein. lVlienA the chamber 3, becomes filled, theliquid will pass through the filter 10, leaving the pulp behind in thechamber 3, and the chambers 9 will eventually become filled up. When thechambers 9 are full of the filtrate, the reciprocation of the diaphragme13 will tend to force some of the filtrate out through the Vvalves 21.These valves are, however,

made small enough so that all of the liquid displaced by the movement ofthe diaphragm cannot pass through the valve dur" ing the downward strokethereof.

The result of this will be a momentary pressure applied to the liquid inthe chamber 9, thereby forcing some of this liquid downwardly throughthe filter 12. This flow heilig in the reverse direction to that takenduring the original filtration will tend to carry out of the filter anysuspended matter which may have become lodged therein, returning it tothe pulp chamber 3. Thus at each upward stroke of the diaphragm 13, thefiltrate in the chamber 9 will be sub;

jected to a negative pressure, causing an upward flow of' liquid throughthe filter and during the subsequent downward stroke, a positivepressure will be applied to the filtrate, causing a reversal ot fiowthrough the filter. Thus by alternations ot pressure applied to theliquid in the chamber 9, an alternation of fiow through the filter lO isproduced. At each upward flow, a filtering action takes place and ateach downward flow a cleaning action of the filter takes place. lt willthus be seen that the filter bed is continually vkept in a cleancondition and at the saine time it is continually active in filteringthe liquid passed therethrough and confiningl the aecumiillated pulp tothe chamber This accun'iulation of pulp naturally tends to thicken themixture in the chamber El.

TvVhen the pulp miinure in the chamber 3 has become sutlicientlythickened, the supply of liquid trom the tank l n'iay be cut ofi' by theclosing olf the valve 2G in the pipe f2. Water or other cleaning fluidmay then be admitted Afrom another source (not shown) opening the valve27. rlhe action of the apparatus is then continued with the cleansingfluid 'flowing through the chambers 3 and 9, the discharge of the troughheilig directed to a new destination, il desired. During this action itis evident that the pulp in the chamber 3 will be thoroughly washed andthe washing fluid carried ofi' through the filter and the chambers fr).Upon completion of the washing' operation, the valve 8 may be opened andthe thickened pulp flushed out through the outlet 7.

lt is obvious that various changes may be made in details oitconstruction without departing :trom the spirit of this invention; itis, therefore, to be understood that this invention is not to be limitedto the specific details shown and described.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is: Y

l. ln the art ot concent'ating wet pulp or like material, the processcomprising, filtering the liquor from the material by passing the liquorupwardly through the filtering niedium, and periodically applyingalternately positive and negative pressures to the filtering medium,substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In the art of concentrating wet pulp or like material, the processcomprising, filtering the liquor from the material by passing the liquorupwardly through the filtering medium, and periodically applyingpressures alternately with and against the flow of the liquor,substantially as and Yfor the purpose set lorth.

3. In the art of concentrating' wet pulp or like material, the processcomprising filtering the liquor from the material while weerom understatic pressure by passing the liquor upwardly through the filteringmedium, and periodically subjecting the liquor to a counter pressure,substantially and for the purpose set forth.

4. ,ln the art of cmicentratingr wet pulp or like material, the processcomprising, filtering the liquor vfrom the material while under staticpressure by passing the liquor upwardly through the filtering medium,and periodically subjecting the liquor alternately to positive andnegative pressures, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

5. In the art of conceiitrating wet pulp or like material, the processcomprising, filtering the liquor from the material while under staticpressure by passing the liquor upwardly through the filtering medium,and periodically subjecting` the liquor alternately to pressures withand against the flow of the liquor, substantially as and for the purposeset forth.

(5. ln the art of concentrating wet pulp or like material, the process,comprising, filtering tic liquor trom the material by passing the liquorupwardly through the filtering medium, and applying periodically adownward pressure to the liquor in order to dislodge the filteredmaterial downwardly from the filtering medium.

'i'. n the art ot concentrating wet pulp or like material, the process,comprising, filtering the liquor from the material by passing the liquorupwardly through the filtering medium, applying periodically alternateopposite pressures to the liquor, whereby the liquorr is forced upwardlythrough the filtering medium and the filtered material is dislodgeddownwardly therefrom.

8. ln the art of concentrating wet pulp or like material, the process,comprising, filtering the liquor from the material by passing the liquorupwardly through the filtering medium, applying periodically a downwardpressure to the liquor in order to dislodge the ltered materialdownwardly from the filtering medium, and accumulating the filteredmaterial below the filtering medium.

9. In the art ot concentrating wet pulp or like material, the process,comprising, iltering the liquor from the material by passing the liquorupwardly through the filtering medium, applying periodically alternateopposite pressures to the liquor, whereby the liquor is Yforced upwardlythrough the filtering medium and the filtered material is dislodgeddownwardly therefrom, and accumulating the filtered material below thefiltering medium.

l0. ln the art ot washing pulp or like materials, the processcomprising, supplying a washing` fluid to the material, filtering thefluid from the material by passing the liquor upwardly through theltering medium, and alternately establishing and relieving periodicallya counter pressure with respect to the fluid flow, substantially as andfor the purpose set forth.

l1. In the art ot' Washing pulp or'like materials, the processcomprising, supplying a Washing liuid to the material, liltering theiuid from the material by passing the liquor upwardly through thefiltering 10 medium, and periodically subjecting the fluid alternatelyto pressures with and against' the flow thereof, substantially as andfor the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature this l day of April, 1922.

ASHELEIGH S. MOSES.

